Beginning is painful
for whomsoever wishes to sing of pain.
Alas! I have never had joy without weeping
from that which becomes me most.
I am a fool to do penance for it,
because I have never besought her for her love:
rather there is a great conflict in me
between desire and fear.
I greatly love and hate both speech and silence,
for each of them may be a matter of life and death to me.

The love which is allowed too much freedom
is foolish and empty,
but when joy is judiciously given
after great suffering
then rational joy comes
and the gains therefrom are good.
From a good day a good week;
reward according to the work.
I greatly love and hate both speech and silence,
for each of them may be a matter of life and death to me.

Every undertaking is hazardous
where there is little certainty,
for circumstances in which joy is very close at hand
appear inauspicious.
It is best to serve, to attract
and to put least for most;
I set little value on a cowardly heart
for it is too false and base.
I greatly love and hate both speech and silence,
for each of them may be a matter of life and death to me.

I believe that I am maintaining
the kind of vigil that the Bretons do for Arthur;
Love kills and torments me
and yet nobody will know of it.
It is better that he do battle with me
so that I do no more
than raise all the joy
of courtly people aloft.
I greatly love and hate both speech and silence,
for each of them may be a matter of life and death to me.